Kids’ Summer Activities Ideas

So, you’ve finished your 180 days, completed your evaluation, submitted your portfolio, and possibly have even turned in your goals and objectives for the 2012-2013 school year. Whew! Now the big question:

What to do with the kids all Summer of 2012?

Philadelphia is a city full of fantastic summer activities! Here are a just a few:

Science in the Summer at your local Philadelphia library. This program is available to all kids in Philadelphia in grades 2 through 6. This summer kids will be learning about Oceanography. Children will learn about sponges, coral, mollusks, and sharks. They also get to do fun, interesting experiments. If you’ve already submitted your goals and objectives for the next school year, you can count these classes as school time. Best of all, its FREE! Check this website to find out when the classes will be held at your branch: http://www.scienceinthesummer.com/greater_phila/philadel.html

Summer Reading Game at your local Philadelphia library. Kids in grades K – 6 are encouraged to read books at their local library. The more books they read, the more prizes they can win. This program has really motivated my children to keep reading all through the summer. It’s FREE! Check this website for more information: http://libwww.freelibrary.org/summerreading/

Upper Darby Performing Arts Theatre. If your kids like drama, this is a great program and its very inexpensive. This year shows include Tom Sawyer, Seussical Jr., & Annie, as well as several other shows. Check out this website for more information: http://udpac.org/

Don’t forget Vacation Bible School! If your home church is not doing one, there may be other good churches nearby that are. Kids have the opportunity to play games, do crafts, learn great new songs, and hear the Word of God.

Free Movies: Kids can watch movies for free on Thursdays at 1pm at the Overbrook Park Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia (7422 Haverford Avenue, 19151-2995; 215-685-0182) . Movies include: Puss in Boots, Despicable Me, and Because of Winn Dixie. Check out this link for more information: http://libwww.freelibrary.org/calendar/calbydate.cfm?loc=OVP&ID=34046

Don’t forget to take your kids to Pennypack or Wissahickon Park! Both of these parks are part of the Fairmount Park system and give families the opportunity to “get out of the city” while they’re still in it. Whether you’re going for a bike ride or just a hike, they’re a great place to visit.

Two Free Nights at the Franklin Institute: Target Community Nights at the Franklin Institute are fantastic, and they’re free. This summer the free nights are on July 18th and August 15th from 5 to 8pm. Check out this link for more details: http://www2.fi.edu/visitor-guide/events/community-events.php